Overview

• SBNation’s preseason mock places Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik at No. 1 to the Saints, highlighting a class projected to feature multiple first‑round passers.
• Evaluations diverge across outlets, with The Athletic’s Dane Brugler rating LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier above Klubnik and Tankathon projecting Nussmeier at No. 5 and Klubnik at No. 16.
• Texas starter Arch Manning enters 2025 as a Heisman favorite, while his eventual draft decision remains a storyline following a reported hint from his grandfather about potentially waiting.
• Analysts single out Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs as non‑QB prospects with top‑five potential if they produce early splash plays.
• Scouting focus centers on Texas at Ohio State and LSU at Clemson, contests widely viewed as immediate tests that could influence the quarterback pecking order and early big boards.